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Resident Linda Greiner asked questions of the Chillicothe City Council Jan. 9 on the state of the sewer system.
“After speaking to a lot of the neighbors on Hollybrook and seeing the water damage inside the Bolding home, which we purchased, I am wondering why there is such an issue with the sewer system?
“I lived in Lacon for 20 years, Henry for 42 — never, ever had a problem and yet it seems like on Hollybrook backups are a regular issue.”
Childers said he did not know facts about the other towns, but said public works employees do have a regular schedule to check the system.
He added that new homes are now required to have a flapper valve to avoid the backups.
Public Works Committee Chairman Denny Gould said the committee had discussed the issue of sewer backups in
Hollybrook at length in the past.
Sometimes the problem is what people are putting in the sewer line, and other times it is tree roots getting into the clay pipe, according to both aldermen and Cooper.
Childers said the problem may be a combination of tree roots catching things in the line.
Greiner asked if it has been discussed to have a referendum to float a bond for replacing the sewer system.
The cost to replace the sewer system would be in the millions, Gould said.
“I rarely do this, but I’m going to defend the city,” said resident Judy Gajdik who was sitting in the audience.
“Historically, Chillicothe has a lot of problems because nobody was paying attention and so-and-so was related to so-and-so and they built on easements. This is causing big problems — we’ve got parking lots, drywells and a couple other problems ... I’m sure the mayor’s going to tell you the same thing he told me: if I have a complaint, get to the committee meeting, get there and say your thing there.”
She added that the city is working on “things.”
Two other residents also shared their issues with backups in other areas of the city, not in the Hollybrook area.
“They’ll be no more building on easements I’ll tell you that now,” said Childers, as some have said the problem is trees being planted or other things put on city easements, making it difficult for workers to service the area.
Childers asked the trio of residents to come to the next public works meeting, which is always the Wednesday before a council meeting. It is scheduled for 5 p.m. Jan. 18 in the council chambers.
Resident Linda Greiner asked questions of the Chillicothe City Council Jan. 9 on the state of the sewer system.
“After speaking to a lot of the neighbors on Hollybrook and seeing the water damage inside the Bolding home, which we purchased, I am wondering why there is such an issue with the sewer system?
“I lived in Lacon for 20 years, Henry for 42 — never, ever had a problem and yet it seems like on Hollybrook backups are a regular issue.”
Childers said he did not know facts about the other towns, but said public works employees do have a regular schedule to check the system.
He added that new homes are now required to have a flapper valve to avoid the backups.
Public Works Committee Chairman Denny Gould said the committee had discussed the issue of sewer backups in
Hollybrook at length in the past.
Sometimes the problem is what people are putting in the sewer line, and other times it is tree roots getting into the clay pipe, according to both aldermen and Cooper.
Childers said the problem may be a combination of tree roots catching things in the line.
Greiner asked if it has been discussed to have a referendum to float a bond for replacing the sewer system.
The cost to replace the sewer system would be in the millions, Gould said.
“I rarely do this, but I’m going to defend the city,” said resident Judy Gajdik who was sitting in the audience.
“Historically, Chillicothe has a lot of problems because nobody was paying attention and so-and-so was related to so-and-so and they built on easements. This is causing big problems — we’ve got parking lots, drywells and a couple other problems ... I’m sure the mayor’s going to tell you the same thing he told me: if I have a complaint, get to the committee meeting, get there and say your thing there.”
She added that the city is working on “things.”
Two other residents also shared their issues with backups in other areas of the city, not in the Hollybrook area.
“They’ll be no more building on easements I’ll tell you that now,” said Childers, as some have said the problem is trees being planted or other things put on city easements, making it difficult for workers to service the area.
Childers asked the trio of residents to come to the next public works meeting, which is always the Wednesday before a council meeting. It is scheduled for 5 p.m. Jan. 18 in the council chambers.
At that time, Childers said City Engineer Ken Coulter should be able to attend to help discuss the issue.
After the meeting, Childers said city officials are discussing beginning a kind of co-op program, similar to the sidewalk program, which would share some of the costs between the city and the homeowner of installing a flapper valve.
“It would totally solve the problem,” Childers said.
Since the city now has a mini-excavator, that type of work can be done easier, Childers said, through the city. He estimated the total cost at $500.
“It’s a problem that we need to address,” said Childers.
In other items, the council:
• Concurred with the mayoral appointment of Rick Hinck to the Airport Authority Board.
• Hired Jamie Carroll as a full-time dispatcher, effective Dec. 13. Through attrition, the department now has five dispatchers with one part-time. One dispatcher may be moving to a larger city, Alderwoman Judy Cantwell noted. There also are nine officers with two on probation. Alderman Danny Colwell said after looking at the bills, he and another alderman wanted to know if the overtime worked by the department will go down, which Cantwell said she expected it would.
• Instructed Acting Police Chief Dan Adcock to advertise for a part-time dispatcher.
• Approved paying $1,202 to Crawford and Brinkman Door and Window Co. for the purchase and installation of an
industrial duty trolley opener for a 10-inch high door and two remotes.
• Instructed Superintendent of Public Works Josh Cooper to advertise to sell the following equipment: 1991 dump truck with plow, 1992 Ford F150 truck and trailer.
• Heard Police/Fire and Employee Relations Committee Chairwoman Cantwell say they were beginning an “informal” meeting Jan. 14 for some of the applicants for police chief.
• Heard Colwell say a couple brackets are being made for the playground equipment in the park in RiverSound.
